The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-03-13
AT THE CAPITAL.
Scenes During the Last Hours
of Congress.
GAINING A GLANCE AT GROVER.
The Important Measures Left Un-
signed-Mrs. Cleveland IncOg.-The
Presidents Good Nature.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Marcb :, 1887.
From our own Correspondent
Whatever may be said OF the begin
ming of the second session of the Forty
ninth Congress, it certainly can be as
serted, with truth, that its closing
hours were the most exciting known in
any Congress since, the year 1861. No
pen can adequately describe the scenes
that took place in the Capital upon the
morning of the last day of the session,
and, of course, the last day of the
Forty-ninth Congress. Within the last
two or three hours much important
work had 10 be transacted; many i'm
portant appropriation bills had to be
signed by the President, in which many
thousands of people throughout the
country were deeply concerned and in
the interest of which many hundreds
had come to Washington, at
GREAT INCONVENIENCE AND EXPENSE
to themselves, to assist in their pas
sage, or, upon the other hand, help the
defeat of their becoming law.
When it was rumored throughout the
Capitol lobbies that the President, &C
companied by one or two members of
his cabinet. and his private secretary,
| Daniel s. Lamont, was on his way TO
| the Capitol, the excitement became in
| tense; for it had been rumored that the
| President, as a matter of dignity,
and as rebuke to Congress for the
delay that had been manifested in pass
ing several important appropriation
bills, had refused to come to the Capitol
at ali. When, however, it became
known that he was in the building, the
swaying mass of humanity congregated
there seemed to lose all control. It was
mob of the most excited kind. Every
body wanted to gain glimpse of the
chief magistrate of the nation, and to
learn what bills he had signed at the
last moment. The failure of the def
cheney bill to reach the Presidents
hands in time, caused such a wall
among certain class, as shall not
easily be forgotten. To get so near
success with certain claims-Just or IN
just-and then have every hope dashed
to the ground at the last moment, is
something that can better be imagined
than described. Within my own per
sonal knowledge, in connection with
this bill, dozens of worthy people felt
perfectly certain that at last they were
going to be paid their just dues, and
they exhibited high spirits almost up to
the last moment. Now all the work
has to be
GONE OVER AGAIN
by new Congress. More time, money
and anxiety have to be expended in a
work which was virtually completed.
Another long session and perhaps a
short one may have to be endured be-
fore equitable claims can be satisfied.
In this respect the goEeSnment of the
than a private concern. The gov
principle of paying nobody that 1t
can get out of paying. A mans
hair must grow gray, his purse be
depleted, and his character almost
ruined, before he can get a settlement
of claim that ought to have been paid
twenty-five years ago. And not only
is it so with men, but with women,
whose claims are undisputed, but who,
it seems, must be kept wandering day
after day in the Hobbies of the Capitol,
during a session of Congress, until
their legs become weary and their
hearts fail in trying to get the ear OF the
Representatives and Senators from
their States with view to obtaining
some assistance in accomplishing the
object they have at heart-the pay
ment OF certain moneys due them, and
upon which they depend to keep body
and soul together. Many an estim-
able woman, in moment of despair,
has fallen in her endeavors to prosecute
sucn claims. Such infamy requires no
further comment. Men, be they Rep
resentatiVes or Senator'S of the Con
gress of the United States, who would
take advantage of
WOMEN IN DISTRESS
women who are perhaps seeking the
pension of tn cir hufbands who sacrificed
their lives in the great civil war-ought
to be Stunned by all decent society.
Yet the tales am told in this regard
are appalling.
The Edmunds-Tucker bill was al.
lowed to become law by default-that
is, the President refused to sign 1T. and
it having been in his hands ten DAYS it
became a law as much as if
it had been duly signed. I confess that
l am disappointed in the Presidents
action. twas thought here that, haY-
ing kept the bill so long upon his desk.
he would veto it a., the last moment. |
Not so. He allowed the bill to become |
law without his signature. 1t is said |
that he critically examined the bill and
found there were several things in it of |
which he disapproved; but still he did |
not care-that is, he had not the moral |
courage-to destroy the whole measure
by veto, notwithstanding, it mani
testify contained unconstitutional proyi- |
sions.
Well, the bill has become law. The
result viii have to be awaited. | have |
had my say on the matter. and shall |
watch with interest the effect of the |
precsdents laid down. There is such a |
thing SIS going too far. The National
Republican of this city is evidently of
the same opinion, This morning it edi- |
torially says:
The action of Congress virtually confscs+- |